Elsie’s concentrating hard on what the Chamber members are saying, nodding along and jotting down notes in the spiral-bound book that sits on the glossy tabletop in front of her. Judging by the way she’s locked in on this whole spiel, I’d say we’re going to have some stiff competition.
Speaking ofstiff. If she bites her goddamn lip one more time, I’m going to have to excuse myself. I shove myself further under the conference table and my boots knock into Sean’s.
“You good?” he mouths at me across the table. I shrug and turn back to the woman who’s speaking now, feigning interest and trying to pretend I’m not envisioning what Elsie would look like sprawled out on this conference table in front of me, with her hair fanning around her pretty face. I shouldn’t be imagining what it would be like to be seated in front of her open thighs when I’m surrounded by an entire fucking room full of people.
It’s no small miracle when the meeting finally ends. I jump to my feet before anyone else at the table, ready to get the hell out of this room. Everyone’s eyes shoot over to me, a mixture of confusion and curiosity on all of their faces. Sean, however, is fighting back a smile. He scrubs a hand over his mouth like he’s trying to wipe it off, but the fucker grins even wider when we make eye contact.
“Eager to get going on this, are you?” he asks mockingly.
“That’s the kind of enthusiasm we like to see,” one of the Chamber members exclaims.
A grunt is my only response, because what the hell do I say to that?
Actually, I can’t stand to be in this room with Elsie for another five minutes because all I can think about is what her thighs would feel like wrapped around my face. Sorry, gotta go.
I hurry from the room and start down the hallway, but a quiet “Hey!” behind me stops me in my tracks. Even though I’ve only heard it a few times, I already know that voice.
I turn to see Elsie hurrying after me, her tote bag slapping against her hip and ballet flats squeaking on the tiled floor. When she stops in front of me and tosses her hair over her shoulder, I nearly drop to my knees.
“Can I, um, talk to you for a second?”
“Aren’t you already?” I cock an eyebrow and watch, fascinated, as her eyes narrow the slightest bit. Whether she likes it or not, I have an effect on her. She might want to wrap her hands around my neck rather than her thighs around my face like I’d prefer, but it’s a start.
“Real mature, Declan.” I ignore the way my stomach bottoms out hearing my name roll off her tongue. “I just wanted to confirm that things are still on track for the opening day we agreed on.”
“Yep,” I confirm.
“It’s in four weeks,” she reminds me.
“Sure is.”
She rolls her eyes and god help me, it’s fucking cute.
“Thank you for the riveting conversation,” Elsie says, voice dripping with sarcasm. Or maybe disdain.
“Could have asked Sean if you were looking for friendly chit chat. He’s the owner, after all,” I point out. “Hell, we have the same contractor. I’m sure lunch date Matt would have been happy to answer your third degree.”
She opens her mouth, then quickly closes it, her brow furrowing. “Lunch date Matt? What does that mean?”
Fuck, I didn’t mean to say that.
“Nothing.”
I’m certainly not fessing up to the fact that her being so chummy with the contractor irritates the fuck out of me. I was about five seconds from wringing his neck that day we ran into them after their walk-through, and that wasbeforehe hugged her. Why are they going on lunch dates, anyway? Doesn’t he have shit to do? Grab a hammer and get back to work, buddy.
“Why do you –”
“Look, Elsie,” I cut her off. I don’t know if it’s my imagination or wishful thinking, but I swear her pupils dilate when I say her name.
“Everything is good on our end,” I continue. “We’re set to open June tenth, just like we planned on. If any issues pop up, we’ll let you know, yeah?”
“Okay.” She looks skeptical, but I’m saved from further questioning when Sean joins us. I hadn’t noticed everyone else from the meeting filtering down the hallway around us.
“Everything good?” he asks, eyes bouncing between us.
“Of course,” Elsie answers quickly. “Just talking about opening day. I’ll see you guys around, I’ve got to get over to the shop to meet Matt. Bye!”
With one last glance my way, she takes off, hurrying out into the sunny afternoon. Sean and I both stare at the glass doors that slam closed behind her.
